First Hit: Although the film is long, I enjoyed it because there are strings of the truth in it.
I’m usually not fond of seeing films based on books I’ve read. This one, for me, captured the important points of the book and although it didn’t do it wonderfully, the points were there to hear (not see) if you paid attention.
Based on the book of the same name by Elizabeth (Liz) Gilbert, the story is about finding inner peace and transforming the main character into being of love versus looking for love outside of herself. Because I’ve done my own inner work, have traveled the world, sat in meditation and silence for 3 months in one stint, and have engaged in spiritual retreats in communities around Europe, U.S, the Far East and India I have a perspective that many other watchers of this film will not have.
It is difficult to express what goes on in a meditative mind on film. Changes in how one behaves in the world which are developed through meditation can take years to assimilate into one’s life. Showing this in a film is difficult.
What can be shown are some of the processes the person goes through, initial results, and more importantly perceptive dialogue. Although this film is long, it isn't long enough to cover the Liz's real journey then and how it is still unfolding. If I were to adjust it, I’d take out some of the time in Italy and add more in the India segment.
This is a film about a woman’s growth into the beginning stages of her spiritual evolution. The key factors expresses are: Forgiveness – one has to forgive themselves.
The path to love is through loving oneself. See things with equanimity which will require balance. Say “yes” with an openness to learn from the people, decisions, obstacles and paths which unfold in front of you in each and every moment. Takes risks and step out of the bounds from which we perceive is our security. Security is an illusion, doesn’t exist in nature and therefore it doesn’t exist.
Julia Roberts is a fine actress. I love her laugh and in this film, I’ve never seen her be more at peace (inner) with herself. I would bet she’s done her own work over the past few years and that this performance just wasn’t acting. However, the problem with reading the book first I felt as if Roberts was too old for the part but all in all she did a very good job with it. Richard Jenkins was very good as Richard from Texas. Javier Bardem was good in his expression of Felipe. Again however, my impression of him from the book was very different, here Felipe was quite buff and younger than I expected. Ryan Murphy did a credible job of directing this story.
Overall: I enjoyed the film and filled in some of the pieces that were missing from the memory of the book.